Russian Federation  amongst first countries to assist Sri Lanka in establishing industrial base  – Speaker

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in Parliament recently that the country should not forget that the Russian Federation was amongst the first countries to assist Sri Lanka in establishing its industrial base, and at that time the three industrial projects, Ceylon Steel Corporation, along with Ceylon Tyre Corporation and Ceylon Sugar Corporation, were established in Sri Lanka with the assistance of the Soviet Union, the predecessor of the Russian Federation

He was speaking at the revival meeting of the Russian-Sri Lankan Parliamentary Friendship Association for the ninth Parliament held recently in Parliament.

The meeting was held under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Yury Materiy and Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake. It was attended by Ministers, State Ministers and Members of Parliament.

 The Speaker said that ‘’The very first Sri Lanka – Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association was inaugurated on 9th October 1998, and the most Senior Parliamentarian, at the moment in the country Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the then Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development was elected as the first President of this Association.’’ 

‘’Sri Lanka imports a large number of items from Russia. On the other hand, Russia is a very valuable importer of Sri Lanka products. Russia has become the single largest buyer of Ceylon tea for several years. Since 01st January 2010, Russian Generalized Scheme of Preferences – GSP  scheme has been granting preferential tariffs to certain developing countries and Sri Lanka has been a beneficiary country of this scheme. Under the GSP of the Russian Federation, Sri Lanka enjoys 25 per cent tariff reduction from the current customs duty rate’’ The Speaker added.

 At this meeting, State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion Susil Premajayantha, was elected as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Organization.

 Member of Parliament Sagara Kariyawasam, was elected as the new Secretary and MPs Mohamed Muzammil, Aravind Kumar and Dr. Upul Galappaththi were elected as the Vice Presidents.

In addition, MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera was elected as the Treasurer and MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala was elected as the Assistant Secretary.